The Sprout
Decorated bike at West Oxford Light Festival
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Issue 173 December 2022
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The Sprout
The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley
Direc tors : J a ne t B a r t l a m , J ud i B o ld e r, J o h n C l e m en t s ,
Mi c h a e l C o ck m a n , Ag M ac K e i th, R o b i n Pal m e r
Editor
Ag MacKeith
South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk
Advertising Manager
Michael Cockman
50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Tel: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk
Deli ver i e s
Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes
9, Sweetmans Road OX2 9BA 07706 606719 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk
Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is
welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.
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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The
Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription – only £12 per annum,
delivered to your door. Contact: Janet Bartlam: 01865 453111.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this
newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for
any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not
a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in
a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual
contributors.
All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.
The S p rou t is p r i n t e d b y T h e Ho l yw e l l P r e ss , a n d p ubl i s h e d b y
Nort h H i n k s e y P a r i s h P ubl i c a tio n s L t d , ( a c om p an y l imi t e d b y
gua r a n t e e ) R e g i s t r a t i o n No. 0 5 6 0 9 5 35 .
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The Sprout
Issue 173, December 2022
Contents
3 All in One Room
5 Christmas Hampers
6 Skatepark
7 We Will Remember Them
11 Calling the Money Family
13 Botley School
17 B & K Medical Centre
19 Public Art Open Day!
21 Home Energy Assessments
23 Home Energy Advice
25 Making Mosaics
27 Haikus
29 Progress at the Precinct
33 Botley Youth Club is Back
35 Vale News
36 Kennington Memory Club
37 Randoms
39 Local Organizations
From the Editor
The Season of Good Will is making itself felt in Botley. The parish council
have invited everyone they can think of who volunteers locally to a party
on 17th December (p3). It’s the first time there’s been something like this
since the Best of Botley, five years ago. Could this be the start of
something big? How about going the whole hog next year, and having a
Volunteers Fancy-dress Ball? Botley Bridges, too, is looking for help with
their annual Christmas Hampers (p5) for local families feeling the pinch.
Everyone must be feeling the rising costs of energy, but there’s help at
hand from Sustainable Botley (pp21-3). Good news for our young people
too: Botley Youth Club is starting up again (p33), and the long-awaited
Botley Bowl Skatepark has reached the end of the design phase (p6) and
been accepted by the parish council. Now to raise the money!
Kennington Memory Club continues to offer help to people with dementia
and their carers (p36), and we have reprised Kevin Smith’s thought-
provoking address from the Remembrance Sunday service last month
(p7). Does anyone know the Money family (see p11)? Please get in touch
if you do. On the cultural front, there are haikus on page 27, a master-
mosaicist on page 25, and a Public Art Open Day on page 19. All this and
more in the December Sprout. We wish all our readers Happy Christmas.
The next issue will be in February 2023.
Ag MacKeith
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All in One Room
The Parish Council is getting into the
Christmas Spirit by setting up what
could be a huge party for the
hundreds of volunteers who all do
something to make this a happy
community. On Saturday 17th
December there will be mulled wine
and mince pies (and cups of tea, no
doubt) in the Seacourt Hall at 4.30pm.
Why are they doing this? Here’s how
Cllr Laura Jones sees it: “The main
aim for this reunion is to have
volunteers from our community all
together in one room, so they can get
to know each other, see other
people’s work, share experiences,
needs and ideas. During these trying times it is good to see that so
many people are giving their time in order for the community to have
some services, places to go, facilities. Might also be a good opportunity
to share some of the frustrations that being a volunteer brings
sometimes. Just putting the list together and seeing the hundreds of
people in our community who spend their free time for the common
good is uplifting in itself. All is not lost, there are many (Many!) in our
local community who want to make Botley a better place.”
So far, 45 different organizations have been approached – the Sprout,
for instance, has about 35 willing helpers, there are around 50 Botley
Responders, 43 PPG members, 19 Friends of Botley School, etc, etc,
and of course many people will be on more than one list. If you know
anyone who ought to be asked, please get in touch with
Lorna.berrett@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Letters
Having recently been the beneficiary of outstandingly good neighbour-
liness, I wondered whether The Sprout in the past (or even present, and
I haven't noticed) has done anything specific to encourage the good
dimension. I'm thinking of maybe a monthly certificate based on Sprout
readers nominating people, or even a small annual trophy of some sort.
Alison le Cornu Why don’t you get in touch with Lorna, Alison, and
ask for an invite for your neighbour? We could discuss it at the party. Ed
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Christmas Hampers for local families on low income
Botley Bridges Family Support and
local food charities are again working
together to spread some Christmas
cheer to local families in Cumnor,
Botley and West Oxford. Last year we
distributed over 100 hampers,
brimming with a variety of food and
gifts, all donated, packed and
delivered by local volunteers.
With the continuing pressure on family incomes and rising prices, many
families find Christmas a difficult time. We are looking to our local
community to spread some Christmas cheer. Can you donate? Here is
what we need:
Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate/Squash/Soft Drinks (no alcohol please)
Fresh fruit or veg
Christmas treats
Jars of Jam / Marmalade / Honey / Syrups
Tins of Fruit / Tuna / Baked Beans / Pasta Sauces / Soup
Bread / Crackers / Oats / Breakfast Cereals / Rice / Pasta
We are also hoping to include some small (stocking filler) gifts in the
hampers. (Please leave these unwrapped so we can best match them
to the recipients.)
For Adults: Toiletries / warm socks / blankets / hot water bottles
For Children: Bubbles / craft or construction sets / activity books
Books (for a variety of ages)
Cards / card games
Toiletries
Drop off donations at St Peter and St Pauls Church Hall, on Wednesday
21st December, between 9am and 6pm. If not possible email
secretary@botleybridges.org to arrange an alternative venue and time. If
you could volunteer to take in deliveries, pack hampers or deliver,
please contact me on the email above, or phone me on 07760 166055.
To request a hamper for a household on a low income, use the form on
https://botleyhampers22.web.app/ or download a form from the Botley
Bridges website and e-mail it to secretary@botleybridges.org Or you
can pick up a form from your school or pre-school, and hand it in there.
Thank you! Sarah Cohen, Secretary, Botley Bridges
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Skatepark
The final design has been agreed, after several months of impassioned
discussion. We had started with the idea that we needed a bowl, as a
nod to the famous original Botley Bowl, but we also needed a mini-ramp
(seen on the right, like a half pipe, but only about 60cm high) as there
aren’t any low ramps in the local parks. A bit of Street (i.e., flat) with
kerbs plus a flat wide pavement (aka manny-pad) which lowly beginners
could get up to speed on, and some concrete billows, perceived as the
future of skateparks, as we wanted to be ahead of the game. There was
also the budget to take into account – £180,000. It seems like a lot of
money, but it is nowhere near the top end of the market. Here is the
design that was welcomed by the Parish Council on the evening of 24th
November.
What next? Now Canvas need to bring the planning application to the
December council meeting for agreement, so we can put it in to the
Vale. Meanwhile, a fund-raising strategy is being devised. We already
have some good ideas and some offers of help, but if you would like to
be part of the fun, and have any fundraising expertise, or access to
corporations that like to give grants to worthy causes that keep
teenagers out of trouble, please do get in touch via The Sprout.
Ag MacKeith
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We Will Remember Them
The annual Remembrance Sunday service run by the Parish Council in
the Commonwealth War Graves in Botley Cemetery took place this year
on 13th November. It is always heart-warming to see how inclusive it is,
with input from all the major faiths, and from old and young alike. It is
always very well attended, too, and the address, which varies every
year, always leaves you with something to think about. This year the
address was given by Kevin Smith, and he chose to direct our attention
to that word: Remembrance.
“We stand here among over 700 war graves, mostly not locals but
people from all over the world. And we know that there are many other
cemeteries like this around the world. Most of the people buried in them
were not special. They won’t appear in any history books. They were
ordinary men like your brother, your son, your father, a neighbour, or
the shop assistant who served you your groceries each week. How can
we remember so many?
I have been researching the 23 men and boys of North Hinksey and
Botley who were killed in the two world wars. I’d like to tell you the story
of one of them: William Ezra White.
William was born on 3rd February 1889 in Oxford, the son of William
and Mary Ann White, and he grew up right here in this cemetery. In
1901 he was living with his parents at the Cemetery Lodge, where his
father was the Cemetery Superintendent for 28 years. He was the
second youngest in a family of three boys and four girls. It must have
been a crowded household. As a young boy perhaps he played football
in the grounds when he thought no-one was looking, or maybe he
climbed some of the trees. I’m sure I would have!
But William grew up. By 1911 he was a grocer’s assistant still living with
his parents at the Cemetery Lodge. He was still a grocer’s assistant
when he married Grace Barson on 25th August 1913, at Saint
Lawrence’s Church, North Hinksey.
William enrolled in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve on 6th
September 1916 (aged 27), when he was described as 5 feet 8¾ inches
high (that’s 1.75m for the younger members of the audience) with brown
hair, blue eyes, and a fresh complexion. After some months’ training, he
joined the crew of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lady Cory-Wright on 4th
August 1917. The RFA Lady Cory-Wright was a cargo steamship
requisitioned by the Admiralty in August 1914 as a Mine Carrier. On
26th March 1918 she left Plymouth for Malta with a cargo of depth
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charges, mines, and other explosives. Later that same day she was
torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-17 as she left the
English Channel. All her forty crew were killed.
William is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent; on
the Abingdon War Memorial; and in St. Lawrence's church, North
Hinksey.
Sadly this was not the only loss for the extended family. His wife’s
cousin Private Thomas Frederick Barson died in March 1917 and is
buried in Botley cemetery. And later, in the Second World War,
Thomas’s nephew, Private William John Barson (of North Hinksey
Village), died in November 1942 of dysentery and beriberi in a
Japanese Prisoner of War camp. He is buried in Malaysia.
So we return to my question: how can we remember so many? Perhaps
after today’s service, you might wander among the gravestones, pick
one at random, and search for his name and service number. If you’re
lucky you will find a sentence or two about him. The local library offers
online access to other resources that you can use to find out more
about his family history. You will all know the line we recite every year at
this service: We will remember them. Here is one way that we can.”
Kevin’s address struck a particular chord with me, because the deeds to
my house include some from 1896 when Thomas Barson was living
there in Old Botley with his wife Priscilla and his family. I asked Kevin
what relation Alice or Thomas might have been, and he got back to say:
Thomas Frederick Barson married Emily Flora Amanda Kitchen of 4 Old
Botley in 1914. [4 Old Botley is the first house from the top of North Hinksey
Lane after RABI headquarters]
William George Barson was the son of Matthew
and Harriet Barson of Home Lea, Old Botley,
and was born in December 1898.
In 1939, Benjamin and Nellie, parents of William
James Barson, (died at sea in the Far East in
1943), were at 5 Old Botley (opposite No 4).
Thanks, Kevin, for opening a window on a little
part of local history. It did make me go back
and search out Tom Barson’s grave. Barson
was such a common name in Old Botley. Are
any of his relations still living in the parish? If
you’d like to know more about ‘The War Dead
of North Hinksey’ that’s the title of Kevin’s book, and you can buy it on
Amazon. Ag MacKeith
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Calling the Money Family
I am currently researching and writing a book about my late father’s
WW2 war journey. In doing so, I have been in contact with people from
a town called Venray in Holland where a comrade of Dad’s is buried. My
contacts in Venray have got in touch to say that another man from
another RM Commando Unit (45) is also buried in their War Cemetery.
He is Cpl Douglas Anthony William Money PO/X116678. He was 22
years old when killed in action on the 26th March 1945, and his parents
are listed as Albert William and Florence Lily Money from Botley,
Oxford. I have since learned he had a sister named Jocelyn L Money
born 1924, and a brother named Gerald B Money born 1926.
Next year will be the 75th Anniversary of his death and also of the
liberation of Holland from NAZI occupation. The people of Venray want
to make contact with any of Cpl Money’s living family members to
uncover what they can about him, and to invite them over to next year’s
memorial services. In particular they are hoping to find a photograph of
Douglas that they can mount into some form of permanent memorial.
Can The Sprout help track down any remaining members of the Money
family in Botley? Any information gratefully received. Jeff Hewitt
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Botley School
What an exciting month it has been at Botley!
The Reception children have been learning about real life superheroes
and have spent time learning about fire-fighters. Their lessons included
a visit from the Red Watch at Rewley Road Station.
“We were so excited to see the fire engine drive onto the playground.
We spent time talking to the fire-fighters and looking at the clothes they
wear. We discuss why they
had to wear certain items
and we tried their jackets on
which was extremely heavy.
We talked about the different
protective clothing and how it
prevents the fire fighters from
getting burnt. We explored
the fire engine and all the
different tools and equipment
they use. We were so lucky
as we got to hold some of the
equipment which was very
heavy and explored how they
worked. We were so excited
to sit in the fire engine and
try on the helmet as well as
watch the flashing lights and
hear the siren. We even had a go using the hose to squirt water across
our playground.” It was such a fantastic afternoon, and the children
thoroughly loved every second.
Firework Night came and went, and a whole week seemed a long time
to wait for the return of the Botley School Firework event. Would people
still want to come and join in the fun, or would Diwali and Firework
Night’s displays have been enough for them? Well, the night was mild
and the rain stayed away – members of The Friends of Botley School
set up food stalls and prepared themselves for the event … and in their
hundreds people flooded through the gates to celebrate a fireworks
event once again. The pyrotechnics, supplied by John, Harry and
Tracey from STORM fireworks were a spectacular success. With each
whizz and bang something new happened, and it was safe to say that
everyone had a fabulous time. In the past people have been keen to
get home at the end of a fireworks event, but this year the crowd stayed
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and chatted and ate burgers and hotdogs. Was this a return to pre-
Covid days? It certainly felt like it.
The school are deeply grateful for the wonderful organisation from the
Friends of Botley School (FOBS) – who organised this brilliant event.
What a great way to raise funds to support our children’s learning, and
what a happy way to gather the community together again! [Pity about
the villains who attempted to syphon off the sponsorship money from
Finders Keepers, that was to have paid for the fireworks. Luckily FOBS
were wide awake, and managed to pre-empt their evil plan! Ed] If you
are a member of the community who would like to find a way to help
support our fundraising efforts, which are crucially important at this time
of uncertain school funding and cost of living rises, please do get in
contact with our FOBS team – they would love to hear from you!
FOBS1930@gmail.com
There are lots of ways you can volunteer at Botley School, so if you are
interested please visit the school website Volunteers’ page.
www.botleyschool.org.uk/volunteering-at-botley-school/
Jo Reid, Headteacher
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B & K Medical Practice
As we noted previously the Care Quality Commission (CQC) made
another scheduled visit to Botley and Kennington Medical Practice at
the end of September and their report has now been published. We’re
pleased to find that the overall rating has been upgraded and below is
the notice we received from the Practice.
“The Partners would like to share with their Patients that the recent
CQC Inspection has produced a rating of “overall good’ for the Practice.
This is a significant improvement upon the previous Inspection. The
Partners have thanked the Patient Participation Group (PPG) for their
continued support.
The Partners would also like to say that it is their aim to keep working
hard for the benefit of the Patients and the Practice.”
The PPG would like to congratulate the Partners and all the staff at the
Practice on the hard work, which has resulted in this very good rating.
Moving forward, the PPG looks forward to working with the Practice to
build upon this impressive result.
The full CQC report is on the CQC website, please see the link below:
https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-544081039
We urge people to read the report
in full. We also note that on one
aspect (‘Effective’) improvement
has still to be made. We will of
course be liaising with the Practice
on the best way to deal with this
issue. A full clarification of
‘Effective’ is given in the report
(pages 7-14 in the Evidence Tables
Report).
Dr Mary Akinola's retirement
The practice has announced the
retirement of Dr Mary Akinola on
1st February 2023 as follows: “We
would like to take the opportunity to
thank Dr Akinola for all the years of
service, dedication and support she
has shown towards not only pa-
tients but colleagues. We wish her
the most relaxing and long retire-
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ment from the Practice in the years ahead. We are sure that she will be
missed by patients and staff. There will be an opportunity for patients
and colleagues to attend an informal leaving do for her near the date of
her retirement. The exact date will be announced in advance.”
PPG meetings
Our meetings are held bi-monthly and are hybrid – taking place both
online and in-person at either Kennington or Botley Medical Centre. If
you are not already a member and wish to join please contact Chris
Sugden at csugden@ocrpl.org
Jean Mulligan, Vice Chair, PPG
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Public Art Open Day
Saturday 3rd December, 10am to 1pm
Seacourt Hall
Come along to find out more about the public art coming to West Way,
talk to the artists, to see the plans, and even take part in creating art for
our public spaces – for Christmas and for the future. All ages welcome,
especially children and young people. Come along to:
Find out more about the public art coming to Botley in the next
few months.
See the mosaic panels for West Way being finished with Clare
Goodall and local volunteers who booked on to Clare’s sessions.
View the plans and templates for the standing stones that local
sculptor Alex Wenham is creating for the shopping centre.
Try out large-scale drawing with mural artist Nor, to help design
new murals for the building opposite the hall.
Create artwork to decorate the Seacourt Hall for the Christmas
period with local artist Ali Hogg.
Everyone is welcome to drop in, take part, chat and meet the artists, or
just come past and have a look.
The event is hosted by North Hinksey Parish Council as part of the
public art engagement for Botley’s West Way Square.
Lorna Berrett, Laura Jones & David Kay, North Hinksey Parish
Council
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Botley Home Energy Assessments – an update
Sustainable Botley’s home energy project is now well underway. See
Steve Jones’ article on the next page about Home Energy Advice, and
do contact him if you’d like an adviser to visit.
Meanwhile we’ve so far carried out energy surveys to identify potential
improvements for seven typical Botley houses – 1930s and 1950s
semis in Elms Rise, and Seacourt Road bungalows. It'll take a few
weeks to analyse the results from the surveys but some things are
already clear. Our report on each house will include calculations of its
heat balance as shown here, as well as the savings that could be made
in energy, costs and carbon.
Botley has a lot of small 1930s semis like this one, with solid brick walls.
Most now have double-glazing and some loft insulation. For these
houses, solid wall insulation might save £400 a year in gas at current
prices as well as improving comfort and preventing damp and mould.
Replacing the boiler with a heat pump would save a similar amount
annually. Insulating the suspended timber floor can also save a lot of
energy, partly because it reduces air leakage. If you live in one of these
semis with ‘skeilings’ (a bit of sloping ceiling in the upstairs rooms at the
side and rear), these are a particular cold spot and may develop mould,
in bathrooms. Insulating them would save about £200 a year in gas
but should be done with advice from a specialist.
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(See photo.) It would probably involving removing the plaster, adding
insulation between
the rafters and
replastering.
There are some
things you can do at
very low cost. If you
have radiators on
outside walls, install
reflective foil behind
them to stop the heat
going straight through
the wall. If your loft
insulation has been
disturbed, it’s well
worth spending a bit
of time tidying it up, making sure it fits snugly to the loft joists, and
adding a little if necessary. We’re producing a leaflet for every
household in Botley with lots of ideas for action and sources of advice.
So, please do get in touch if you’d like a home energy adviser visit –
contact Steve at swj6601@gmail.com. Also contact Steve if you could
volunteer as an adviser – you’ll get a short training and we ask you to
be prepared to visit about two households a month over the next six
months.
And please contact me at laurie@livingwitness.org.uk if you live in a
new house and would be willing to have it surveyed. If it’s well-built to
current standards, it shouldn’t need insulating but it might well make
sense to install a heat pump.
Laurie Michaelis
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Home Energy Advice –
Free home visits on request
At the Botley Energy Advice Day (Nov 26th), Sustainable Botley
offered information and advice to all comers on some simple steps
anyone can take to save energy and cut domestic fuel bills (saves
energy and you save money!).
We have a small group of friendly home energy advisors, who are
ready to visit you at home, listen to your concerns or queries, and
give you specific tips tailored to your exact circumstances. The sorts
of things we cover are:
Are you getting the support you are entitled to (especially
with bills)? This includes those on various benefits.
Are you getting the most out of your heating?
Do you have energy-wise routines?
Are you keeping your heat in effectively?
We may be able to refer on any problems we can’t deal with to other
sources of help like the Citizens Advice Bureau, Better Homes,
Better Health, or help you deal with your energy supplier – if you
wish.
The Home Energy Advisors will be focussing on ways of saving
energy that are cheap or free, and are most concerned to help those
finding it hard to meet the costs of heating, especially if you’ve not
had any help before.
If you are interested in trying out a visit – this can take as little as half
an hour, but can be for longer if you wish – please get in touch via
this email: swj6601@gmail.com If you want us to phone you back
to arrange a visit, please include a number for us to call. All
discussions, recommendations
and tips, etc, will, of course, be
confidential.
If you read this and know of
someone who might like this
help, but is unable to make email
contact, please let us know.
Steve Jones, Home Energy
Adviser, Sustainable Botley
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Making Mosaics
Josie Webber talks to Riki Therivel
So much of our modern life is minute
by minute, and fragmented and
stressed. I love making mosaics
because it is slow. You can’t rush it.
You may need to undo it. It is
absorbing, mesmerising. And you end
up with something permanent and
beautiful.
Mosaicking is the kind of thing that
people can do if they’re not in the best
of health. It doesn’t need much
energy. And you get so involved in it
that you get lost in it. I love that
therapeutic element
For the Osney Lock Hydro Sundial that
I did for Low Carbon West Oxford,
local people voted for the animals and
plants to include. A person stands on the sundial's plinth and their
shadow falls on a large clock to show the time (the site is open Friday
Sat and Sun mornings from 10am). Mosaicking those pieces meant I
had to really study local nature. I looked at reams and reams of photos
in the process. I based the mosaics on photos because the actuality of,
say, a dragonfly is not what people think a dragonfly looks like.
Mosaicking water is wonderful: you can create the lines of flow with the
glass and the grout. Of course, you can never replicate the detail of
nature, and that in itself brings some humility. When you study
something so much you end up in love with it.
To mosaic, you first choose your subject and how you’re going to
describe it. You have to take a lot of detail out and distil the subject, or
else the mosaic will look too busy. You draw it out on the backing,
which can be anything, from paving stones to wooden planks. You
choose your colours and your tiles. It’s also fun to use recycled
materials like old bowls, jewellery, broken windscreens, shells. Then
you cut it, which is messy; you glue it down, which is messy; and put
grout between the materials, which is very messy. There are different
colours of grout. You have to cover the entire mosaic with the grout and
then wipe it off: for a little while, you lose sight of all the hard work you
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have put in to the mosaic, and then when you wipe the grout off it looks
completely different, all pulled together.
I got interested in mosaics when I was a student in London. London
itself was grey and ugly, but it has some really good mosaics. I
remember going to the Criterion restaurant in Piccadilly and the ceiling
was covered in mosaics: gorgeous! I have taken some courses with
Becky Paton who is a mosaicking genius. She has made some
amazing portraits in mosaic (beckymosaics.co.uk).
I’ve had mosaic disasters. I’ve dropped an entire mosaic before it was
glued down. I’ve used grout that was
too light, and then tried to scrape it all
off with a screwdriver. My favourite
scenes to mosaic are night scenes
and I love doing the work at night.
Mosaicking in a group is fun and
joyous. But a lot of mosaic work
involves hours and hours of working
alone. That gives you an inner
connection to your work. You can’t
stop. And then everything else in life
feels right.
Josie runs mosaicking courses. To
find out more contact her on josieawebber@yahoo.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Still Not Quite a Cultural Desert
I have composed three haiku to commemorate the annus mirabilis of
modernism - would be great if you could include them in a forthcoming
issue of The Sprout. Happy to, Dan! Keep them coming. Ed
Three Haiku about Modernism
1. Reading Ulysses 2. Is it one hundred
on my phone does not make it years old? That Eliot poem?
any easier. You mean ‘The Waste Land’?
3. She came, she saw, she
conquered. Virginia Woolf had
a room of her own. Dan Ferrett
30
31
Building Progress at the Precinct
Current status: It’s been a while since we have given any updates on
the status of the development at West Way shopping centre. Phase one
is complete, and we are awaiting commencement of Phase 2, the
empty, boarded off area on the corner of West Way and Westminster
Way.
We see that two more restaurant units have been taken up and are
being fitted out, and hopefully they will open soon and be successful.
It’s a shame that Pappo’s didn’t manage to make a success of their
venture.
Since development started quite some time ago, and many new people
have come to Botley since then, we have set out the history of this
development in Table 1. Planning permission was first granted in June
2016, but since then we’ve had Brexit, the Covid pandemic, the war in
Ukraine, two general elections, and four Prime Ministers! Obviously, the
economic climate is quite different from what it was when the Botley
Centre plans were first proposed. No doubt this has an impact on how
quickly the units have been taken up.
Table 1: Backstory
2012
Botley Development Company (then known as Doric) bought
the old West Way Shopping Centre from the Vale of White
Horse District Council, together with adjacent office blocks.
2014
Doric’s plans for a ’district centre’ to include a huge super-
market and cinema complex, were refused planning permis-
sion. This development would have required demolition of
the Elms Parade shops, the vicarage of St Peter and St
Paul’s church and the sheltered housing at Field House.
2016
Planning permission was granted for a slightly smaller
scheme involving 262 bed student accommodation, 140
flats, a Premier Inn, and retail and restaurant units.
2021
Phase 1 construction completed
2021
Planning permission was granted by Secretary of State
(overturning District Council’s rejection) to increase the size
of the remaining block from 8 to 9 storeys and the number of
flats in the block from 120 to 150. Phase 2 construction to
commence in late 2022.
32
33
Phase 2
At the time of writing, the latest information we have is that work will
start towards the end of November. This will consist of a nine-storey
block, with retail and car parking on the ground floor, and 150 one-, two-
and three-bedroom flats above.
We anticipate that BDC will set up Community Liaison meetings as
previously, at which community representatives, parish councillors and
WWCC will receive updates and have an opportunity to raise issues.
Affordable housing: There will be no affordable housing in the
development. The developer will make a total payment of £2m (index
linked to inflation) to the Vale of White Horse District Council in lieu of
affordable housing.
The first payment of £1million was due by commencement of develop-
ment, and it was received in June 2018. The second payment is due
when the 70th unit is occupied in January 2024.
£194,000 from the payment will be used towards the Oxfordshire
Community Land Trust scheme (Crofts Court, off Eynsham Road in
Dean Court), which is currently building eight affordable flats for local
people.
Public art: The public art for the centre is progressing – managed by
North Hinksey Parish Council. Local adults and school children have
been involved in Clare Goodall’s mosaic workshops throughout
November. Planning permission has been granted for the standing
stones to be carved by local sculptor Alex Wenham. Highways England
inexplicably refused permission for artwork under the A34 bridge, so
Nor Greenhalgh is now looking for alternative sites for her work. For
more information see https://northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/public-art-botleygap
AGM: WWCC would usually have an AGM in November, but given that
there is little to report, we will not be holding one this year. As always,
you can send your questions and comments to us at
westwayconcern@gmail.com, and we will endeavour to find answers.
Contacts: To ask questions or raise concerns about how the centre
works, e.g. parking, pedestrian areas, etc, contact the Facilities
Manager for the centre – Lisa Himpson of Savills, who is regularly on
site and can be emailed at Lisa.Himpson@Savills.com The student
accommodation is operated by the management company CRM, who
can be contacted on westwaysquare@crm-students.com
Mary Gill, Chair
34
35
Botley Youth Club is Back
Botley Youth Club
(formally known
as North Hinksey
Youth Club) is
coming back to
the Louie
Memorial
Pavilion.
We held a super-
spooky
Halloween
extravaganza at
the end of
October to see if
the club was
something local
youths would
welcome – and we are very happy to report it is!!!
The local Coop and Tesco rallied round, with resources for the games
as well as some yummy treats for the children – and the adults helping!
Over 30 children came, their ages ranging from 10 to 14 years.
Seasonal fun was had, as you can see from the pictures: apple dunking,
mummy making, doughnut eating, pumpkin carving and ‘guess the goo’.
There was lots of positive feedback, as well as some very exuberant
ideas for what we could do in the future. It was so wonderful to be able
to offer a safe space for the children to enjoy each other’s company,
and to see them making the most of the wonderful outdoor space that is
on offer at the LMP. Head over to our social media page to see pictures
of glow-in-the dark fun and the
candlelit scenes that just look black
in the Sprout. You can keep up to
date with future events on
Instagram at botley_youth_club.
The youth club steering committee
already has a number of volunteers
dedicated to offering a service to
the young people in our community,
but we would absolutely love to
36
welcome many more people.
If you are interested in
offering support, or know
anyone who is (and are over
16!), please do get in touch
at botleyyouthclub@
gmail.com. If you would
prefer to work behind the
scenes, we could do with
secretarial help, as well as
hands-on support on the
night.
We would like to thank
the local Coop, Tesco,
all those parents who
stayed to join in with
the fun, and especially
the young people for
making the event such
a great success.
Now to plan for the
next one....
37
The Botley Youth Club Steering Committee
News from the Vale
Cllr Emily Smith and I were
particularly pleased at the
progress made this month at our
Cabinet meeting. Our
administration’s hard work over
the past three years has brought
Vale’s budget under control, to the
extent that we could commit more
help in a few specific ways. These
schemes embody our values and
do more to help the most
vulnerable of our residents.
Cabinet has recommended that Vale council expand the Council
Tax Reduction Scheme to provide 100% relief for those who qual-
ify, no matter their property band. Previously, it was 91.5% and only
up to Band D.
Cabinet extended the current Partnership Grants scheme to
Oxfordshire South and Vale Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Wantage
Independent Advice Centre (now known as Vale Community
Impact), and Community First Oxfordshire, who do such good work
in providing support for residents. Recognizing these organizations’
need for longer term funding security, we agreed to continue our
current rate of funding to 2024, and to design and deliver a new
partnership funding to 2025, subject to approval of the budget by
full council.
Cabinet approved a new Housing Delivery Strategy and Action plan
to deliver on our commitments to housing that people can afford.
38
Please get in touch with us if you want to know more about the details
of any of these schemes.
In other news, I worked with Harcourt Hill residents to object to the
subdivision plans at Whitwick. Arguing that the neighbourhood
character as described in the Neighbourhood Plan was worth
preserving, we convinced committee members they should refuse a
plan for three homes on a plot where one now exists. All that hard work
on the Neighbourhood Plan is paying off.
The Vale Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee
agreed to the request to change the parish council name. From next
year your local council will be called Botley and North Hinksey Parish
Council. Cllr Debby Hallett
It’s hard to believe that it’s come round to the Christmas season
already, as time seems to have just flown by so quickly this year.
Carols, cards, Father Christmas, presents, turkey, Brussels sprouts and
mince pies all come into focus as we build up to the Christmas season.
Memories of these aspects of Christmas are often not lost by those who
have difficulty in remembering other details of their lives. Music and
singing are very important to people with dementia and Christmas
carols are recalled and enjoyed with gusto. Those who have caring
responsibilities for such family members love to see them getting into
the Christmas spirit, but they also greatly value the time and breathing
space they get when they can leave their loved one at the Kennington
Memory Club Day Centre. The carers can relax in the knowledge that
they are safe and happy for the day, thankful that they themselves can
attend appointments, have a coffee or lunch with a friend, or get the
Christmas shopping completed. We are very pleased that we can give
them the gift of this time off-duty, to spend as they wish.
We at Kennington Memory Club wish everyone a happy and peaceful
Christmas, and a New Year which is successful in every way.
www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk
Isobel Birse
Day Centre News
News!
40
Randoms
Foster carers needed in Oxfordshire
Love – that's what fostering is all about. As Oxfordshire foster carer,
Sue, says: 'these kids don't want money, they don't want things – they
just want love and attention, and they want your time'. Oxfordshire
County Council’s fostering team is looking for people with big hearts to
become foster carers. So, if you’ve got love to give, they’d love to hear
from you! Find out more about fostering – oxfordshire.gov.uk/fostering
Naomi Cooper
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Our local Lunch Club for older members of the community meets on
alternate Thursdays in the Seacourt Hall. Run entirely by volunteers,
Lunch Club would love to hear from you if can spare a few hours to lend
a hand, even if it is to simply help with vegetable preparation or the
washing up! We serve a two-course meal at 12.30 promptly and diners
can arrive from about noon onwards to meet and chat with friends. Our
ingredients are bought locally, and our meat comes from Hedges on
Elms Parade. Any profit goes towards meals to celebrate special
occasions such as Christmas.
If you would like to join our cheery team of volunteers either pop in to
the Seacourt Hall around 10.30am or contact Jackie Warner (tel: 01865
721386) or Irene Bartlett (on 01865 243573). Our next date is Thursday
1st December, and our Christmas meal takes place on the 15th. The
dates for January are 19th and 26th.
New diners would also be very welcome. We meet fortnightly on
Thursdays in the Seacourt Hall from noon. Lunch is served at 12.30pm.
The cost is £5 for a two-course, freshly cooked meal, except for our
Christmas meal when we charge £7. Please ring either Jackie or Irene,
on the numbers above, if you would like to join in. Dates for the next six
months are: 9th & 23rd February, 9th & 23rd March, 6th & 20 April, 4th
& 18th May, 1st, 15th & 29th June and 6th & 20th July.
Warm space this winter
To help address energy prices this winter, Seacourt Hall trustees have
agreed to offer free warm space in the hall during vacant timeslots to
any group that bring a planned ‘warm space’ proposal. If you have a
proposal to support local people with warm space, please contact our
hall manager Lottie on admin@seacourthall.org.uk
41
Free meals for all comers
Botley Community Kitchen (BCK) cooked its first free meal on 18th
November at the Seacourt Bridge Pub. This voluntary project to use up
surplus vegetables is supported by Marstons Pubs (who own Seacourt
Bridge) and the Oxford Food Hub, who contribute surplus vegetables
and spices. The lead volunteer and cook is Dr Saman who also helps
run SOFEA/WOCA Oxford City Larder. The plan is to provide a hot
meal to all comers between 3 and 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The ribbon was cut by Layla Moran MP, and our county and district
councillors were there in support, along with many parish councillors
and a small penfull of Llamas, who kept the waiting diners entertained.
There are pictures and more details at Botley Community Kitchen on
Facebook, and you can reach Saman on Cadrsaman@gmail.com or
07887 902412.
Sprout supports girls football
The Sprout is pleased to announce that the Weetabix Wildcats, aka
Botley Girls Football Club, will shortly be wearing their new kit proudly
proclaiming sponsorship by your
favourite local rag. Here is the new logo:
Traffic woes
There are so many different traffic issues in the pipeline we thought we
should try and pin them down here.
First, the much discussed (5,500 comments!) County Council plan to
reduce city traffic, with its Workplace Parking Levy, Zero Emissions
Zone and Traffic Filters (aka bus gates) was all set for a six-month trial,
when it was stymied by a shock announcement from Network Rail. As a
result it has been postponed for at least a year.
Network Rail is closing the Station Railway Bridge from 9th January for
11 months while it builds a western entrance to the station and replaces
the bridge. Bikes and people on foot will still be able to go through for all
bar nine days. The YHA and Mick’s café (as was) will be demolished,
and buses will turn round on either side of the bridge with passengers
connecting on foot. It is to be hoped that Thames Water will seize the
chance to renew the pipe that carries the city water supply under Osney
Bridge and remove the temporary boxed arrangement over the bridge
while the road is closed.
Preliminary work on replacing the railway bridge near Redbridge will not
begin until the other works are finished, further delaying the start of the
Flood Alleviation Scheme. AgM
42
Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please sendetails
to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.
1st Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean
Metson, firstbotleybrownies@gmail.com
2nd Botley Brownies
Girls aged 7–10
Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison
Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com
4th Oxford Scout Group
Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts
mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:
http://www.thefourth.org.uk/
15th Oxford Scout Group
Boys and girls welcome
Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.
Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)
07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk
Baby & Toddler Group
Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
BikeSafe. B4044 community
path campaign
Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8
weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org
Books on Wheels R.V.S.
Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142
Botley Boys & Girls F.C.
Football teams from ages 8-16
Terri Matthews: clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com
Botley Community Larder
Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West
Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com
Botley and Kennington
Patients Participation Group
Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.
Contact csugden@ocrpl.org
Botley Library
07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,
otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).
Botley Seniors Lunch Club
Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner
Ox.721386
Botley Youth Club
botleyyouthclub@gmail.com
Cumnor Choral Society
Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142 or
www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com
Cumnor Chess Club
Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett
01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk
Cumnor & District
Historical Society
Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old
School. 01865 724808
Cumnor Gardening Club
http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/
or phone 01865 721026
Harmony InSpires, Ladies'
Acappella Singing Group
Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235
831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk
Hill End Volunteer Team
Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,
call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk
Lawn Tennis Club, N Hinksey
Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org
07824 881680 www.oxfordsportsltc.org
West Oxford Singing Circle
Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see
www.emilyschoirs.co.uk
Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc
Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk
43
North Hinksey Preschool
and Childcare clubs
Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email
nhps.manager1@gmail.com
N Hinksey Art Group
Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997
N Hinksey Bellringers
Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451
N Hinksey Conservation
Volunteers
Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr
07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com
N Hinksey, Friends of
Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.
N Hinksey Parish Council
clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk
Oxford Flood Alliance
R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035
Oxford Flower Arranging
Club
4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259
Oxford Harmony
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall
Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk
Oxford Otters
Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,
twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420
Oxford Rugby Club
Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com
Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.
Raleigh Park, Friends of
Email: raleighpark@raleighpark.org.uk
Seacourt Hall Management
Committee
Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see
https://www.seacourthall.org.uk
Shotokan Karate Club
6+ WOCC twice weekly
Martyn King 07836 646450
Stagecoach Botley
Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing
Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810
Well-Being Walks, Botley
2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car
park, Arnolds Way. Ashley 07717 714477
West Oxford Bowls Club
Dave Ellerker 07931 603801
wobc.membership@gmail.com
West Oxford Taekwon Do
Club
Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall
01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk
West Oxford U3A
(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/
West Way Day Centre
Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.
oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Women’s Institute (Botley)
Alison Jenner 07598 251161
alisonjenner@yahoo.com
Weight Watchers
Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall
Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com
44
Botle y B a p t i s t Ch u r c h ,
I Ch u rch Wa y
Contact: Building Manager 07742
662668 botleybaptist@gmail.com
The R o s a r y R o o m
Ya r n e lls Hil l , E l m s R i s e
Con t a c t: M a ria Bro w n ,
Tel : 0 1 8 65 24 7 9 8 6.
SS Pe t er & P a u l C h u r c h
Hall , W e s t Wa y, Bo t le y
Con t a c t: 0 1 86 5 2 4 2 05 7 or
osn e yb en e f i c e @ o u t l o o k . c om .
Wo m en ' s I ns t i tut e Ha l l ,
Nort h H i n k s e y L a ne
Con t a c t: Va l W a r n e r
Tel . 0 1 8 65 24 5 2 7 3
Sea c o u r t H a l l ,
3 Ch u rch Wa y
Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,
or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk
Pavi l i o n, Arno l d ’s Wa y,
Elms R i s e , B o t l e y
Con t a c t: D a rre n Bl a s e 2 41 2 5 4
louiememorialpavilion@gmail.com
Ox fo r d R u g b y Club ,
Nort h H i n k s e y Vi l la g e
Contact:. Mary Bagnall
mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.
North Hinksey & Botle y Churches
Times of Ser vices (once resume d) and Contacts
St. L aw rence, Ch u r c h of E ng l a nd , No rth H i nk s ey L a ne
1st, 2nd, 4
th
, 5
th
Sunday 11. 3 0 a m Holy Communion
3rd S u nda y 11. 3 0 am Ma t i ns
St. P e ter a nd S t. P a ul , Chu r c h o f En g l a n d , W e s t Way
Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit
1st Saturday each month, 4–5.30pm Messy Church for children and carers
Rev C l a re S yk e s , Tel . 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 2 34 5 o r revc l a re @ b t i n t e r n e t . c o m
See t a b le a b ov e f o r C h u r c h Hal l e nq u i r i e s.
Our L a d y of t he R osar y, Ro m a n C a t h o lic , Yar n e ll s H i ll
Satu r d a y 6 .30 p m Mass
Sund a y 9.15a m Ma s s
Fr D a n iel Ll o yd 0 7 58 4 3239 15 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.
Botl e y B a p ti s t C hur c h , 1 C h u r c h W ay
Sund a y Se rvi c e 11 a m.
W ednes d ay Z o o m B i bl e S t ud y 7.30pm
Choi r pr a c ti c e Th urs d a y 2p m
Dian e M e l che rt 07 7 42 6626 68 w w w.bot l e yb a pt i s tc h urc h . or g
Cal v a r y C ha pe l
Sund a y s e r vi c es on 1st Flo o r, 1 C h urc h W ay at 9 . 3 0a m wi th
crèche, children’s Sunday school and youth group
Past o r S te v e Vic k er y 0 1 8 6 5 5 8 6 33 2
con t a c t @ c c o x. c h u rc h webs i t e : w w w. c c ox f o r d . c hu r c h
45
What’s On
December
Sat 3rd 10-1pm, Seacourt Hall, Public Art Open Day
Sat 3rd 7.30pm Ss Peter & Paul Church, Cumnor Choral
Christmas Concert
Tues 6th W.I. Hall, North Hinksey Lane, W.I. Christmas Party
Thur 15th 12 for 12.30, Seacourt Hall, Botley Seniors Lunch
Club
Thur 15th 7.30, Seacourt Hall, North Hinksey Parish Council
Sat 17th 4.30, Seacourt Hall, All in One Room, party for all
volunteers
Tues 20th and Wed 21st, Family Forest days at Hill End
Wed 21st All day, 9 till 6, Ss Peter & PauL Church Hall, Drop
Off Christmas Hamper Goodies
No U3A talks in December
January
Mon 9th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Lizzie Rowe ‘Treasures from the Royal Collection’
Sat 18th 10-2pm, The Fishes, District Councillor Surgery
Mon 23rd 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk:
Thomas Barnardo ‘The Doctor’
Every Thursday, 3-5pm in Ss Peter & Paul Church Hall:
Botley Community Larder
No Senior Lunch Club in January
